Bolt-action firearm



MY 23, w. D. M. WILLIAMS 2,404,555

BOLT-ACTION FIREARM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed- June 24, 1944 mm NRJ@ \"m am, NW KO y O O E ,I Lm. ow ,mm w N Q MQ mi S i 1 Q S n .l im Q D. M. WILLIAMS BOLTTACTION FIREARM Filed'June 24; 1944 l 3 sheets-sheet Y AWM/70,?

MV/0 M. WAM/4,145

uy 23, N4@ D. M. WILLIAMS 294,555

BOLT-ACTION FIREARM Filed June 24, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 g i u 5? rmavfyf Patentecl `uly 23, 1946 BOLT-ACTION FIREARM David M. Williams, New Haven, YConn., assgnor to Olin Industries, Inc., a corporation of Dela- Ware Application June 24, 1944, Serial No. 541,904

The present invention relates to improvements in rearms and relates more particularly to improvements in bolt-action iirearms of the type wherein a breech-bolt has -both longitudinal reciprocating movement and transverse turning movement.

In firearms of the type above referred to, it is essential that the firing-plunger be retracted with reference to the cartridge-seat in the forward face of the breech bolt, in order to avoid having such ring-plunger engage' with the primer of a fresh cartridge as the latter is forced into the cartridge-chamber of the firearm by the breech-closing movement of the breech-bolt. As will be apparent from the following, the present invention involves a construction and arrangement of parts whereby the retraction of the firing-plunger referred to may be assured.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a bolt-action rearm of the type referred to, wherein superior means is provided for retracting a reciprocating firing-plunger with respect to a breech-bolt, to guard against having such ring-plunger available for engagement with the primer of a cartridge until the cartridge is substantially fully seated Vin the cartridgechamber of the iirearm and until the breech-bolt is locked.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a superior construction and arrangement of parts of the general character set forth above and further characterized by economy and simplicity of manufacture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bolt-action rearm with superior retracting-means for the firing-plunger so constructed and arranged as to avoid interference with a hammer and to enable the said hammer to strike a solid blow upon the firing-plunger.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over theV prior art. Y Y

In the accompanying drawings,- in which certain modes of carrying out the present'invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a broken View of the centralV portion of a gas-operated self-loading rearm embodying the present invention, viewing the same from the right side, partly in side elevation andy partly in vertical central-longitudinal section; Y

Fig. 2 is a similar View but viewing the structure from the left side and showing a-portion of the receiver broken away, 'the parts being shown 4 claims. (c1. i2-110)' Y ciprocating-and-oscillating breech-bolt 20j whichr :1an-ir www@ emancipation of V2 Y inthe positions which they `assumeimmediately following. the discharge of the rearm; Y

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the Yhammer in its cocked position, the breech- Ibolt in a position slightly rearwardly of its breech-clocing position, and the firing-plunger in its retracted position; K K

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 4-7-4 of Fig.V 2 and, therefore, showing the breech-bolt in its breech-closing position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but taken'on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and, hence, showing the breech-bolt in its unlocked position; f'

6 is fa top or plan view of the unit ,comprisi'ng the breech-bolt, firing-plunger and extractor; n A Fig. `'7V is a View looking toward the left side thereofy" Y Figi 8 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale, `taken 'on the-line 8 8. of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional View taken on the'line 9-9 of Fig. 6 and showing the guideh'ead of the firing-plunger in alignment lwith the adjacent locking-lug of the breech-bolt;

` Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig.`9 but showing the firing-plunger turned to bring its guide-head out'of alignment with the adjacent locking-lug ofv the =breechbolt I Fig. -11 is a view-of the Vbreech-bolt andassociatedelements partly in plan and partly in eentral-longitudinal sectionY on` the line Il-II of Fie- 'li Fig. 12His a broken topor plan view of the Yforwardportion of the receiver;

1{ig.13V isa view thereof vin vertical central- `longitudinal section'v taken on the line l3-l3 of'Fig. 12; a A

jFig.-14 is aviewrin front-end elevation of the iiring-pluuger,` detached; and l Y Fig. 15 is atop or` plan (View thereof.V f; Tha particular bolt-.action rearm herein chsenfor illustration t9 make clear one embodiment fof the presentinvention; is 'of the gas-operatedself-loading typathough the present invention is applicable to manually-operable andother The bolt-action rearm'shown in the'accom- 'F pan'ying drawings includes among its `main velements a receiver I5; la barrel I6, a trigger-plate 'unitv l'IQfan action-slide I8,.a stock lfand `a rea bolt-receiving chamber 2| formed in the interior of the receiver I5.

Adjacent its rear end, the barrel I6 is formed with an integral depending cylinder-lug 22 having a rearwardly-opening piston-chamber 23 therein. The said piston-chamber is arranged with its longitudinal axis extending in substantial parallelism with the bore 24 of the barrel I6. Leading forwardly and upwardly from the rear face of the front wall of the said piston-chamber 23 to the bore 24 of the barrel I6, is an inclined gas-passage 25 serving to conduct gas under pressure from the said bore to the piston-chamber 23 for the actuation of a piston in a manner as will hereinafter appear.

Mounted for reciprocation in the piston-chamber 23 of the cylinder-lug 22 is the relativelylarge-diametered forward-portion 26 of a piston generally designated by the reference character 21. In addition to its forward-portion 26, the said piston 21 includes a rearwardly-projecting 'stem 28 resulting in the formation on the piston of a conically contoured rearwardly facing stopshoulder 29. The stem 28 extends through and rearwardly beyond a ring-like stop-member 36 threaded cr otherwise mounted within the threaded rear-portion of the piston-chamber 23 and formed with a conically-contoured forwardly-facing seat 3| adapted to be engaged by the similarly-contoured stop-shoulder 29 of the piston 21.

The rear face of the stem 28 of the piston 21 is normally engaged by the forward face of a fronthead 32 constituting an integral feature of the action-slide I8 before referred to. The said action-slide also includes a rear-head 33 which is guided foi` reciprocation adjacent the right side of the receiver I5. The front-head 32 and the rear-head 33 of the action-slide I8 are integrally connected by a side-bar 34 extending in substantial parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the firearm-structure, as is especially well shown in Fig. 1. The rear-head 33 is formed with a laterally-projecting operating-handle 35 by means of which the rearm may be manually operated.

In its inner or left face, the rear-head 33 of the action-slide I3 is formed with a cam-recess 3S into which fits the outer portion of a `combined operating-and-locking lug 31 laterally oifsettinge';

from the forward end of the breech-bolt 20. The coaction of the lug 31 and the surfaces of the cam-recess 36 serve to operatively interconnect the action-slide I 8 and the breech-bolt 23 in a manner broadly similar to the connection ern-15i ployed in the well-known Garand military rie. The action-slide I3 (and hence, also, the breechbolt 26) is yieldingly urged forwardly by a helical breech-closing spring 38 encircling and thrusting forwardly upon a breech-closing plunger 39 having its forward end seated against the front-head 32 of the action-slide I8, as is shown in Fig. 1. Normally, the breech-closing spring 38, acting through the breech-closing ,plunger 39, maintains the forward face of the vfront-head 32 of the ac-` tion-slide I8 in engagement with the-rear face i and has its forward portion narrowed as at 44, to leave an opening through which cartridges may be ejected, as is especially well shown in Fig. 12.

The narrow portion 44 of the top-wall 46 terminates short of the forward portion of the receiver and provides a forwardly-facing lockingabutment 45. The forward portion of the right side-wallM of the receiver is notched to provide a forwardly-facing locking-abutment 46 which serves in conjunction with the locking-abutment 45, to hold the breech-bolt in its breech-closing position in a manner as will hereinafter appear.

In its left side-wall 43 and below the lockingabutrnent 45, the receiver I5 is formed on its inner face with a longitudinal guideway in the form of a guide-groove 41 located substantially-diametrically-opposite the clearance-passage 42 between the upper edge of the right side-wall 4I and the right edge of the top-wall 40, before described.

The breech-bolt 20 is forined on its right side adjacent its forward end with the integral 'combined operating-and-lockihg lug 31 which is adapted, in a manner as will hereinafter appear, to reciprocate in the clearance-passage 42 in the receiver I5, and to have its rear edge engaged with and disengaged from `the locking-abutment 46. 'Ihe extreme outer pr'tion of the combined operating-and-locking lug 31 is entered int the cam-recess 36 in the rear-head 33 f the actionslide I8, so as to operatively couple the said action-slide to the br'eenzih-bolt.v

At a point substantially diametrically opposite the operating-and-locking lug 31, the forward portion of the breech-bolt 2'0 is 'formed with a locking-lug 48 whichi's adapted to be engaged with and disengaged fromA the locking-abutment 45 and to reciprocate inthe guide-groove 41 in the left side-wall 43 ofthe 'receiver I5.

As is shown especially well in Fig. 151., the breech-bolt 20 is formed with a central-longitudinal passage 49 in which reciprocates and oscillates a firing-plunger 50. The passage 49 just referred to extends from end to end through the breech-bolt |26 and is enlarged adjacent its rear end to provide a rearwardly-facing spring-seat 5I against which is seated the forward end of a helical retracting-spring 52 encircling the adjacent portion of the firing-plunger 50. The opposite or rear end of Y the retracting-spring 52 seats against a head 53 formed at the rear of the firing-plunger 5i) and provided with a helical groove 54, by means of which the retractingspring 52 may be threadedinto a position forwardly of the said head 53. The retractingspring 52 is accommodated in the enlarged rear Iportion of the passageg49 in the breech-bolt 20 and serves to yieldingly urge the said firingplunger rearwardly to Withdraw the firing-point 55 at the forward end thereof, into a position ward portion of the clearance-slot 56 and like the latter adapted'to receive a lplate-like guide-stem 58 formed integral with' and projecting Vlaterally from the firingplunger 56. The said guide-stem 56 is formed at its outer end with a guide-head 59 dimensioned to freely slide in the guide-groove 4l in the left side-wall 43 of the receiver l5.

The rear edge of the guide-stem 58 of the firing-plunger 56 is adapted to engage with a forwardly-facing stop-abutment 66 formed in the breech-bolt 26 and constituting the rear wall of the clearance-notch 51 therein. At the junction of the respective forward walls of the clearanceslot 56 and the clearance-notch 51, the breechbolt 26 is formed with a cam-like retracting-surface 6I which is adapted to engage with the forward-surface of the plate-like guide-stem 58 to eiect the forcible retraction of the firing-plunger in the event of any failure of the retractingspring 52, all in a manner as will more fully hereinafter appear.

The relatively-slender forward portion of the firing-plunger 56 immediately to the rear of its firing-point 55, is cut away to provide two diverging surfaces 62 and 63 (Figs. 9 and l0). Extending into the cut-away portion of the firingplunger adjacent the surfaces 62 and 63 just referred to, is the cylindrically-contoured stem 64 of a cartridge-extractor 65. The said stem 64 extends substantially vertically downwardly through the forward portion of the breech-bolt 26 in intersecting relationship with respect to the longitudinal passage 46 which accommodates the firing-plunger 56 in the breech-bolt 26. The angle of the surface 63 on the firing-plunger 26 is such that the said surface will engage with the stem 64 before the guide-stem 58 of the firingplunger 56 can be brought clear of the stop-abutment 66 and into registration with the longitudinal clearance-slot 56 in the breech-bolt 26. In this manner, the cooperation of the surface 63 with the stem 64 of the cartridge-extractor 65 normally serves to prevent the firing-plunger 56 from being turned sufficiently far to register its guide-stem 58 with the slot 56, so that the rear edge of the guide-stem 58 is retained inposition to be engaged with the stop-abutment 66 of the breech-bolt, to thereby limit the rearward travel of the said firing-plunger with respect to the breech-bolt. The removal of the extractor 65 and its integral -stem 64 will enable the ringplunger to be turned so that its guide-stem 58 will register with the slot 56 in the breech-bolt and thereby permit the rearward withdrawal of the firing-plunger from the breech-bolt 26.

Normally, the breech-bolt 26 may be oscillated with respect to the firing-plunger 56 within the limits substantially represented by the angular displacement of the two diverging surfaces 62 and 63 on the said firing-plunger, as is indicated in Figs. 9 and 10. This scope of relative movement will maintain the rear edge of the guidestem 58 of the firing-plunger 56 in position to be checked in its rearward movement by its engagement with the stop-abutment 66 on the breechbolt 26. Normally, the firing-plunger 56 is maintained in its retired position by the tension of the retracting-spring 52, under which condition the rear edge of the guide-stem 58 will be engaged with the stop-abutment 66 of the breechwbolt 26, as is particularly well shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 11. In the particular rearm chosen for illustration in the accompanying drawings, a hammer 66 is pivotally connected to the rear portion of the trigger-plate unit Il by means of a pivot-pin 61. The particular form of the hammer 66 or its equivalent, is of no vital import with' respect to the present invention but, as shown, the said hammer is ,releasably maintained in a cocked position as shown in Fig. 3V by means of a sear 68, and the upper portion of the said hammer is urged to swing forwardly by a suitable hammer-spring 69. f

Normally, the retracting-spring 52 serves to maintain the firing-plunger 50 in its retired position in which its firing-point 55 is retired rearwardly of a cartridge such as 16, shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The said retracting-spring 52 also serves to normally hold the rear end of the ring-plunger 56 extended beyond the rearendof the'breechbolt 28 into position to be struck and driven forwardly by the hammer 66.

For purposes of making clear the operation of the above-described firearm, let it be assumed that the hammer 66 is cocked and that the ringn plunger is retracted as shown in Fig. 3. Let it further be assumed that-the breech-bolt 26isVv moved forwardly from the slightly-retired position shown `in Fig. 3 into its full breech-closing` position, and is locked therein (Fig. 4) by being turned by the surfaces of the cam-recess 36 inV the action-slide I8, so as to cause its combined operating-and-locking lug 3l and its 'lockinglug 48 to respectively engage with the lockingabutments 46 and 45.

If now the hammer 66 is released to the action of the hammer-spring 66, the upper-portion of the said hammer will swing forwardly and engage with the projecting rear end of the firingplunger 56 and drive the same forwardly, thereby causing the firing-point 55 to effect the dis- Charge `of the cartridge 16. The parts will now have assumed substantially 4the positions in which .they are shown in Fig. 2.

- The high-pressure gases developed by the discharge of the cartridge 76 as just above described, will partly flow downwardly through the inclined gas-passage 25 in the cylinder-lug 22,Y and will drive the piston 21 rearwardly. The rearward movement of the piston 21 will be limited by the ring-like stop-member 36 after `but, a brief movement, 4but the energy of the piston will have been imparted to the action-slide I8, and willV drive the same rearwardly against the tension of the breech-closing spring 38. The rearward movement of the action-slide I8 will cause the appropriate surfaces of the cam-recess 36 therein, to cooperate with the combined.. operatingand-locking lug 3l of the breech-bolt 26, to turn the said breech-bolt from the position in which it is shown in Figs. 2 and 4 into the position in cause the retracting-surface 6I of thehreecllV bolt to engage with the forward edge of the guidestem'58, and thereby forcibly retire the said i'lring-plunger, so thatits firing-point 55 will be drawn rearwardly (Fig. 3) out of position wherein it can engage with the primer of a cartridge. Thus, in the event that the retracting-spring 52 of the firing-plunger 56 should become damaged,v or should the firing-point 55 become so wedged in a defective primer as to renderthe said re.

7 tracting-spring ineffective, the said firing-plunger will be forcibly and positively retracted by the turning movement of the breech-bolt. This turning movement of the breech-bolt relative to the firing-plunger is possible, due to the fact that the guide-head 59 of the firing-plunger is held against turning movement by riding in the guidegroove 4l in the left side-wall 43 of the receiver' I5. Thus, while the said firing-plunger is free to move longitudinally with the breech-bolt 42l! and also longitudinally with respect thereto, the said ring-plunger is held against turning movement relative to the receiver when the breechbolt itself is turned with respect to the said receiver.

Following the initial turning movement of the breech-bolt to unlock the same as above described, its movement will continue rearwardly in the normal manner of firearms until the justl'lred cartridge has been extracted and ejected, and the hammer 66 has again been cocked. Following the rearward movement of the breechbolt 2 into its fully retired position, the breechclosing spring 38 will assert itself and move the action-slide i8 forwardly and thereby also move the breech-bolt 2U forwardly, and will ultimately cause the said action-slide to turn the said breechbolt to again lock the same in its breech-closing position preparatory to another cycle of operation of the rearm. n

The firearm may be operated manually, 1f desired, by means of the operating-handle 35 extending laterally from the action-slide I8.

From the foregoing it will be seen, that by means of the present invention, an eective construction and arrangement of parts is provided, whereby it is insured that the firing-point 55 or its equivalent will be in its retired position when the breech-bolt is moving forwardly, to thereby avoid the accidental discharge of a fresh cartridge prior to the said cartridge having been fully seated and the said breech-bolt having been fully closed and locked in its breech-closing position.

The invention may be carried out in other specie ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essentia1 characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered 1n all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

l. A bolt-action firearm, including in combination: a receiver formed with a bolt-receiving chamber and with a longitudinally-extending guideway located adjacent the said chamber; a breech-bolt having both reciprocating and turning movement in the bolt-receiving chamber of the said receiver, the said breech-bolt having a longitudinal plunger-receiving passage therein and also having a longitudinal clearance-slot intersecting its rear end and a clearance-passage laterally intersecting the said clearance-slot, the said clearance-passage having a rear wall providing a forwardly-facing stop-abutment terminating at one end at the said clearance-slot, the said breech-bolt also being formed in a forward portion of its said clearance-passage with an inclined retracting-cam surface facing generally rearwardly; a firing-plunger mounted in the plunger-receiving passage of the said breech-bolt and having a lateral projection extending out- Wardly through the clearance-passage in the said breech-bolt for engagement with the retractingcam surface and the stop-abutment thereof and having sliding engagement in the guideway of the said receiver, the firing-plunger having a laterally-facing limiting-abutment and having relative turning movement with respect to the said breech-bolt; spring-means urging the said firingplunger rearwardly; and releasable limitingmeans carried by the lsaid breech-bolt and positioned to be engaged by the laterally-facing limiting-abutment of the said firing-plunger before the lateral projection of the said firing-plunger can pass out of engagement with the forwardlyfacing stop-abutment in the clearance-passage of the breech-bolt to thus prevent the inadvertent rearward movement of the lateral projection of the said firing-plunger through the longitudinal clearance-slot in the said breech-bolt under the urge of the said spring-means.

2. A bolt-action rearm, including in combination: a receiver formed with a bolt-receiving chamber and with a longitudinally-extending guideway located adjacent the said chamber; a breech-bolt having both reciprocating and turn-- ing movement in the bolt-receiving chamber of the said receiver, the said Ibreech-bolt having a longitudinal plunger-receiving passage therein and also having a longitudinal clearance-slot intersecting its rear end and a clearance-passage laterally intersecting the said clearance-slot, the said clearance-passage having a rear wall providing a forwardly-facing stop-abutment .terminating at one end at the said clearance-slot, the said breech-bolt also being formed in a forward portion of its said clearance-passage with an inclined retracting-cam surface facing generally rearwardly; a firing-plunger mounted. in the plunger-receiving passage of the said breech-bolt and having a lateral projection extending outwardly through the clearance-passage in the said breech-bolt for engagement with the retractingcam surface and the stop-abutment thereof and having sliding engagement in the guideway of the said receiver, the firing-plunger having a laterally-facing limiting-abutment and having relative turning movement with respect to the said breech-bolt; spring-means urging the said firingplunger rearwardly; and a cartridge-extractor carried by the said breech-bolt and having a Stern extending transversely of the breech-bolt and positioned to be engaged by the laterally-facing limiting-abutment of the said ring-plunger before the lateral projection of the said iiringplunger can pass out of engagement with the forwardly-facing stop-abutment in the clearancepassage of the breech-bolt to thus prevent the inadvertent rearward movement of the lateral projection of the said firing-plunger through the longitudinal clearance-slot in the said breech-bolt under the urge of the said spring-means.

3. A bolt-action firearm, including in combinati-on: a receiver formed with a bolt-receiving chamber and with a longitudinally-extending guideway located adjacent the said chamber, the said receiver also having a locking-recess laterally intersecting the said guideway; a breechbolt having both reciprocating and turning movement in the bolt-receiving chamber of the said receiver and provided with a laterally-projecting locking-lug movable in both the guideway and the locking-recess of the said receiver, the said breech-bolt having a longitudinal plunger-receiving passage therein and also having a longitudinal clearance-slot intersecting its rear end and a clearance-passage laterally intersecting the said clearance-slot, the said clearance-passage having a rear wall providing a forwardlyfacing 'stop-abutment terminating at one end at the said clearance-slot, the said breech bolt also being formed in a forward portion of its said clearance-passage with an inclined retractingcam surface facing generally rearwardly; a liring-plunger mounted in the plunger-receiving passage of the said breech-bolt and having a lateral projection extending outwardly through the clearance-passage in the said breech-bolt for engagement with the retracting-cam surface and the stop-abutment thereof and having sliding engagement in the guideway of the said receiver, the ring-plunger having a laterally-facing limiting-abutment and having relative turning movement with respect to the Isaid breech-bolt; spring-means urging the said firing-plunger rearwardly; and releasable limiting-means carried by the said breech-bolt and positioned to be engaged by the laterally-facing limiting-abutment of the said firing-plunger before the lateral pro- :lection of the said ring-plunger can pass out of engagement with the forwardly-facing stopabutment in the clearance-passage of the breechbolt to thus prevent the inadvertent rearward movement of the lateral projection of the said ring-plunger through the longitudinal clearance-slot in the said breech-bolt under the urge of the said 'spring-means.

4. A bolt-action firearm, including in combination: a receiver formed with a bolt-receiving chamber 1and. with a longitudinally-extending guideway located adjacent the said chamber, the said receivei also having a locking-recess laterally intersecting the said guideway; a breechbolt having both reciprocating and turning movement in the bolt-receiving chamber of the said receiver and provided with a laterally-projecting locking-lug movable in both the guideway and the locking-recess of the said receiver, the said breech-bolt having a longitudinal plunger-receiving passage therein and also having a longitudinal clearance-slot intersecting its rear end and a clearance-passage laterally intersecting the said clearance-slot, the said clearancepassage having a rear wall providing a forwardly-facing stop-abutment terminating at one end at the said clearance-slot,rthe said breech-bolt also being formed in a forward portion of its said clearance-passage with an inclined'retracting-cam surface facing generally rearwardly; a firing-plunger mounted in the plunger-receiving passage of the said breech-bolt and having a lateral projection extending outwardly through the clearance-passage in the said breech-bolt for engagement with the retracting-cam surface and the stop-abutment thereof and having slidingY engagement in the guideway of the said receiver, the firing-plunger having a laterally-facing limiting-abutment and having relative turning movement with respect to the said breech-bolt;

spring-means urging the said firing-plunger rearwardly and a cartridge-extractor carried by the said breech-bolt and having a stem extending transversely of the breech-bolt and positioned to be engaged by the laterally-facing limiting-abutment of the said tiring-plunger before the lateral the said firing-plunger can pass out ofV engagement with the forwardly-facing stop-abutment in the clearance-passage of the breech-bolt to thus prevent lthe inadvertent rearward movement of the lateral projection of the said ring-plunger through the lonigtudinal clearance-slot in the said breech-bolt under the urge of the said spring-means.

DAVID M. WILLIAMS; 

